Reflective Essay on Nursing

Reflective Essay on Nursing

Introduction

This paper critically reflects upon an incident from my specialist area of clinical practice utilizing a reflective model. Further, it critically appraises the application of one core concept as identified by the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery for Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Advance Nurse Practitioner (ANP) practice, to the incident that is outlined below in the paper.

As my profession is a community health nurse (CHN), I will put light on a personal experience using GIBBS's reflective cycle. It occurred with one of my patients. I would highlight my learning and development which I gained through this experience. I would reflect upon this incident that how it made me effective in achieving my preferred practice. I would describe my opinion, thinking and approach about the incident that occurred. It will also show the quality care I provided; the skills that I developed during my training and what I learned from the incident thereafter, as reflective process is has a great impact in learning nursing practice (Jasper, 2003).To show how this incident developed and what I learned, I would demonstrate it through GIBBS model. It would guide my reflective process (Oborne, 2002, 103).

Discussion

Reflection

Reflection has been defined as the process of internally examining and exploring an issue of concern (Goff, 1995) this has been prompted by an experience and the concept of terms of self is clarified and its meaning is also created and changed into a conceptual perspective. Further, Reflection refers to an active flow where the development of understanding takes place that how social, historical, cognitive, cultural and personal experience contributes towards professional knowledge and practice (McNulty, 1999, 12).

Gibbs' (1988) reflective model consist of six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and an action plan. This framework is being acknowledged as one of the principal approaches to reflection; however, this is similar to that of Boyd and Fales (1983).

Reflective Techniques

It closely analyses the importance of reflective techniques and the process in which they could be applied to different situations. Key findings are supported by theoretical evidence such as Gibbs' 6 stages (1998) and Kolb's learning cycle (1944) that represent the various steps needed for reflection. Throughout the report I have used both Reflection-on-action by reflecting back on the incidents and Reflection-in-action techniques (Schon, 1987) by explaining how I used reflection during the task to solve some of the issues faced.

It has been identified that the three characteristics or attitudes of people who are reflective are; open-mindedness, responsibility and wholeheartedness (Dewey, 1933). We form understandings and ideologies through our experiences at work, however, until we reflect and understand why we acted in that matter, this understanding remains intuitive.

Johns' Model of Reflection (1994)

The following cues are offered to help practitioners to access, make sense of, and learn through experience.

Description

Write a description of the experience

What are the key issues within this description that I need to pay attention to?

Reflection

What was I trying to achieve?

Why did I ...